Newcastle Airport

Location –
Newcastle Airport is the ninth largest airport in the United
Kingdom. It is located at about 6 miles from Newcastle city centre. The
A1 is the closest major road to the airport. Passengers, who might be traveling
from traveling from Edinburgh, will find it easier to move through A68 and
then the A696.Know your Airport - The Airport was first
opened on the 26th of July, 1935 by the then Secretary of State for Air,
Sir Phillip Cunliffe-Lister. The airport is owned by seven local authorities
and Copenhagen Airport. The airport has seen fantastic development in recent
years. Newcastle has been recognized as the fastest growing regional airport
in the United Kingdom. Newcastle Airport covered 5.19 million passengers
in 2005. Construction of a new Air Traffic Control Tower on the north side
of the site has begun. The building is expected to be fully operational
by December 2007 and will cost around £8.2 million.

Terminals
– Newcastle Airport Main Terminal was built
during the 1990s. All the major airlines as well as travelers use
this terminal.
Transit systems – There is no such exclusive transit
system in operation at the Airport. However passengers use the Tyne
and Wear Metro service. The journey time to Newcastle Central Station
is 24 minutes and Sunderland can be reached in 50 minutes using the
same line. It is a good example of a rapid public transit system.
Inside the terminals – The check-in desks are situated
on the ground floor of the terminal building. There is an Information
Desk, in the Main Terminal Building. This is open for 24 hours a day
catering to passenger enquiries. The check-in times for both International
flights and European flights is 2 hours prior to departure. For domestic
flights, the time is just an hour before departure. Boarding generally
begins around 30-45 minutes before departure. The departure lounge
is positioned on the first floor of the terminal building. There are
a number of shops and places to eat in the departure lounge. For the
forget traveler, kindly note that the left luggage facilities can
be found on the ground floor on the sides of the check-in desks.

Safety - Safety has always been the topmost priority
on the minds of its authorities. Elaborate but hassle-free security
arrangements are in place. Travelers are requested not to carry items
like scissors, blades, knives, needles and even pool cues/darts. The
security policy for cylinders, magnets, fire-lighters, poisons and
radioactive materials etc. are is very strict. The authorities of
the Newcastle Airport maintain highest standards
of security and safety.
Business facilities – For the business traveler, the
airport provides good services. There are 2 Executive lounges in Newcastle
airport. One of them allows passengers over 12 years old in the lounges.
Passengers usually receive complimentary drinks and snacks. Phone,
fax and internet facilities are readily available in this lounge.
The BA Executive Lounge is open for all full fare paying BA passengers.
There is a coffee bar, serving snacks and wine, which can used as
meeting points. There is an internet lounge which provides broadband
and WiFi facilities. A digital photo centre is also present which
enables business travelers to get a quick snap for passports and related
needs. Click
here to know more.
Family interests – The authorities of Newcastle
Airport realize that family interests are deeply connected
with entertainment for children. This is the reason the terminal has
a gaming outlet. There are a number of arcade games and simulators
available for the paid use. While children are busy with entertainment,
adults can keep themselves busy with books, comics and games at many
shopping outlets at the airport. There are specialty shops which sell
a wide range of confectionery. There are a number of shops equally
before and after security. Tax and duty free stores are usually located
after the security search. For women there is a beauty lounge offering
manicures, massages and facials. This one of a kind facility can be
found in the terminal building.

Special service
– Newcastle Airport is sensitive towards the
needs of the disabled. This is the reason they have a whole range
of facilities to help them and make their journey comfortable a comfortable
one. Free wheelchair use is available on request. There are many toilets
with alarm buttons, especially made for the disabled. Like seriously
ill travelers, the disabled travelers can also use the Ambulifts available
for access to aircraft. Facilities like text-phone are available just
opposite the information desk. Please remember to inform your airline
of any particular needs preferably 48 hours before journey. Pre-arranging
any essential aid will ensure that it's obtainable and minimum time
is lost once you arrive at the airport.
Parking options – In and around Newcastle Airport
there are many good Short Stay as well as Long Stay parking options.
Short-stay parking is perfect for picking-up or dropping-off passengers.
Long stay parking is best for passengers willing to use the services
for more than 4 - 8 days.
Extra information - Tourist Information is available at the
Newcastle International Airport tourist information desk. It gives
solid advice on the local area, services, lodging and journey. For
the reclusive traveler who seeks spiritual peace, a Chaplaincy room
is available for quiet and prayer. It is located by the top of the
escalators in the Terminal. Newcastle International Airport
has recently won three esteemed awards. Newcastle International Airport
outdid others and won three awards for ‘Customer Service Star’,
‘Most Improved Airport of the Year’ and the ‘Be
a Star Winner 2005’ at a Annual Conference in 2006.

Leaving from Newcastle airport – Newcastle
airport does not have its own train station, but the promising
Metro Line puts it simply 30 minutes away from the city train station.
The metro services are repeated and are the best way to get out of
Newcastle city centre. There are standard bus services which take
travelers from the Newcastle Airport Terminal to the City centre,
the Metro Centre in Gateshead and Blyth. National Express runs services
from all over the country into Newcastle city centre. For those who
enjoy their privacy, taxis can be booked in advance to give themselves
speed and some extra time.

Essentials - There is a lost property recovery
service in the airport. There are many cashpoints adjacent to domestic arrivals
to give cash to the travelers. Other essentials like telephone booths and
postal services are available in the Main terminal building.

Airlines operating from Newcastle airport

Air France, Air Malta,
Air Wales, British Airways, Eastern Airways, easyJet, Flybe, Jet2.com,
Hapag-Lloyd Express, KLM, Ryanair, Scandinavian Airlines System, SN
Brussels Airlines, Thomsonfly, Widerøe etc. There are many
charter flights operators in Newcastle and they cater to many destinations
in Europe, the Middle East and North America. Operators include Futura,
MyTravel Airways, Thomsonfly and Thomas Cook Airlines etc.